Bill Text: TX SB1975 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to a study of the economic cost of significant oil and gas activity in rural areas of the state.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-25 - Referred to Natural Resources & Economic Development [SB1975 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-SB1975-Introduced.html
By: Zaffirini | S.B. No. 1975 | |
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relating to a study of the economic cost of significant oil and gas | ||
activity in rural areas of the state. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 403, Government Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subchapter R to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER R. STUDY OF ECONOMIC COST OF SIGNIFICANT OIL | ||
AND GAS ACTIVITY IN RURAL AREAS. | ||
Sec. 403.601. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: | ||
(1) "Rural county" means a county with a population of | ||
less than 50,000. | ||
(2) "Significant oil and gas activity" means oil and | ||
gas operations, including development, production, and waste | ||
disposal, associated with a recognized oil and gas play that in | ||
total is producing more than 500,000 barrels of oil per day or two | ||
billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. | ||
(3) "Rural area" means an area located in a rural | ||
county, or contiguous with a rural county, where significant oil | ||
and gas activity is occurring. | ||
Sec. 403.602. STUDY OF ECONOMIC COST OF SIGNIFICANT OIL AND | ||
GAS ACTIVITY IN RURAL AREAS. (a) The comptroller, in conjunction | ||
with the Texas Railroad Commission, the Texas Department of | ||
Transportation, the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas | ||
Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, | ||
and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, shall conduct a | ||
study on the economic cost of significant oil and gas activity in | ||
rural areas of the state. | ||
(b) In conducting the study, the comptroller shall: | ||
(1) analyze the amount of local government and state | ||
revenues generated by the activity; | ||
(2) analyze the need for increased services or | ||
infrastructure development related to the activity, including: | ||
(i) state and county roads; | ||
(ii) healthcare facilities and workforce; | ||
(iii) housing; | ||
(iv) police, fire, and emergency medical | ||
services; and | ||
(v) public and higher education. | ||
(3) assess whether revenues generated by the activity | ||
at the local level are adequate to address the needs analyzed in | ||
subsection (b)(2); | ||
(c) The comptroller shall submit a report on the study to | ||
the legislature not later than December 1, 2016. The report must | ||
include a summary of the information resulting from the study and | ||
recommendations for changes in law or appropriations necessary to | ||
address shortfalls in needed public services and infrastructure | ||
development. | ||
Sec. 403.603. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires | ||
September 1, 2017. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |